Injured Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has hailed the return of veteran former stopper Jens Lehmann and revealed that he thinks the German can help lead the Gunners to Premier League title glory.
Lehmann was a mainstay in Arsene Wenger’s ‘invincible’ side of the 2003/04 season and also helped the north London side to FA Cup success the following year with penalty heroics against Manchester United in the final.
Although only signed as back-up to Spaniard Manuel Almunia, young Pole Szczesny insists that the charismatic Teuton will be more than just a new face in the dressing room.
Reflecting on the current goalkeeper injury crisis at the Emirates and Lehmann’s arrival , Szczesny told Arsenal TV Online:
“Jens will be probably happy about it because he can get back to professional football.
“It’s good to have him around as well. He’s a very experienced guy and has massive leadership skills in the dressing-room.
"You can tell he is by far the oldest player the most experienced. He has won it [the Premier League] in England so hopefully he will help us to win the title this year.
Asked as to how the German introduced himself to his new teammates, Szczesny confirmed that his former training partner had indeed spoken publically to the whole squad.
“Most of the players know him very well, but he had a little speech [to the squad]. I don’t want to talk about it because maybe he wants it to stay between us. But he is very welcome at the club.
“Basically I think the most important thing is that he has been there and done it with Arsenal. We know that he has that experience and he can pass it on to all the younger players.
“Hopefully we can use his experience to win the title and he is a quality goalkeeper. He is 41-years-old, but when you see him in training you wouldn’t tell he is that old. He is a quality goalkeeper.
“I trained with him a fair few times [during his previous spell]. He was always very helpful and always gave me a lot of advice. I had a good friendship with him and it’s good to have him back.”